»Early Application Options

Chapman has two early application options for first-year applicants applying in fall: Early Action and Early Decision.

The main difference between the two options is that:

• Early Action (EA) is non-binding; you can choose to accept or decline admission. If you are not certain whether you will commit to Chapman if admitted, you should apply Early Action.
• Early Decision (ED) is binding; you must commit to Chapman if admitted.

If Chapman is your top choice and you are considering applying ED, below are some key details to help you make your decision.

Advantages of applying Early Decision

If Chapman is your top choice, applying Early Decision could provide some benefits:

• Applying Early Decision demonstrates your strong interest in joining and contributing to the Chapman campus community.
• ED applicants generally receive decisions EA or Regular Decision applications, usually around the beginning of December.
• Getting admitted Early Decision leads to an early conclusion of your college search process. This can reduce stress, effort and costs associated with college search. In addition, it can allow you to:
  • Focus on enjoying the end of your senior year.
  • Get a head start on preparing for your first semester of college. 

Other Early Decision considerations

Before applying Early Decision to Chapman, you should be aware of the following considerations:

• Chapman only offers a single Early Decision option, which has a November 1 deadline. 
• You can apply Early Decision to any undergraduate program at Chapman.
•  If you apply Early Decision to Chapman, you will also need to submit an Early Decision Agreement (which also requires verification from a parent/guardian and high school counselor) through the Common App.
• Chapman's Admission Committee will make every effort to provide an admit or decline decision to Early Decision applicants by early December. In the rare cases when ED applicants are deferred to the Regular Decision pool, they will be released from their Early Decision agreement.
• If your financial aid offer is a consideration of whether you will be able to attend Chapman, we recommend applying Early Action, not Early Decision.  

Chapman University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, medical condition, marital status, religion, military status, or veteran’s status in its admissions policies or administration of its educational programs, including scholarship and loan programs, under Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 and under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Questions, concerns, or complaints may be directed to Colleen Wood, Title IX Coordinator at titleix@chapman.edu, phone (714) 997-6721, Argyros Forum Room 101, or to the Director, US Department of Education, Washington, DC, 20201.

Note: any questions relating to the admission process should be sent to admit@chapman.edu